Anne Ambrose Hired in Cathedral City

Anne Ambrose chosen Cathedral City’s Assistant City Manager

Anne Ambrose has been chosen to serve as Cathedral City’s new Assistant City Manager following a nationwide recruitment process, Ryan Hunt, communications and events manager announced Friday, Jan. 27. She will earn $221,899 annually.

Ambrose replaces Katherine Fuentes was hired as the city’s first assistant city manager. She left on Oct. 28, 2022, to focus full time on motherhood for a while after welcoming her newborn into the world, Ryan Hunt, communications and events manager said. Her last day with the city was Oct. 28.

Ambrose most recently served as interim city manager for the City of California City, located in eastern Kern County (July 2021 – April 2022). A full-service city which also manages animal control, she was responsible for overseeing an organization with 142 employees and a $67 million budget. During her tenure, she evaluated the city’s finance, cannabis, planning, public works, building, and engineering programs and developed strategies for program improvements.

“With twenty-five years of local government experience, I’m excited to welcome Anne to Cathedral City to help us continue to move our community forward,” City Manager Charlie McClendon said in a statement. “She has beneficial experience in a number of key areas and is a proven leader with a dynamic skillset.”

Before joining the City of California City, Ambrose served as Director of Administrative Services for the City of Palmdale from 2013-2021. She directed the creation of a new department merging Human Resources, Finance, City Clerk, Information Technology, Communications, Community Programs (CDBG/HOME, volunteers, food pantry) and Emergency Management. She also succeeded in improving efficiencies to provide better customer service and support for both internal and external stakeholders.

A graduate of Kent State University, Ambrose also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University in Northridge, and is a graduate of the Leading, Educating, and Developing (LEAD) Program at the University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in Charlottesville, VA. She also served as an Advisory Board Member at the Pepperdine University Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership from 2013-2019.

Hunt said Ambrose is excited to join the City of Cathedral City and will attend the Special City Council Meeting Strategic Planning Workshop from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28. The meeting is open to the public and will be located at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 67967 Vista Chino.

“I’ve been honored to serve in local government for the past twenty-five years of my career and I am thrilled to be starting the next chapter with Cathedral City,” Ambrose said in a prepared statement. “I truly believe public service is one of the highest callings and I look forward to helping this community build on its positive momentum as a great place to live, work, and play in the Coachella Valley.”